Dispensing tank



June 12, 1928.

S. B. MERRY DISPENSING TANK Filed Feb. 24, 1926 IN VEN TOR. BY den/m4 A TTORNEY .Pmad June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,613,696 PATENT ounce- WALD 3. m1, BERKELEY, OALIIOBN IA, ABBIGNOB TD run REPUBLIC B'I'III;

PACKAGE OOIPANY, O! BICHIOND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OI GALIIORNIA.

DISPENSING TANK.

Application fled February 24, 1986. Serial No. 80,820.

My invention relates broadly to tanks, and more particularly to that class of tanks for the dispensation of fluids, such for example, as the tanks employed in oil service stations,

5 garages and the like.

Dispensing tanks of the above character are generally single containers and have mounted thereupon hand pumps for dellvering the fluid contents of the tanks to the measuring reeptacles. These tanks are constructed to withstand the pressure due to the fluid contents only. Other dispensing tanks that I am aware of have been constructed to withstand internal pressures for the delivery of the fluid contents by air pressure instead of hand or power-driven pumps. Of necessity, the latter tanks had to be built much stronger and consequently entailed a V greater construction cost on account of heavier material, reenforcing rods and braces both corner and through. Since the latter tanks are under pressure, a great ob- 'ection has been encountered otherthan the igh cost, and that is, no provision is made for the overflow or surplus flow of the fluid back to the tank from the dispensing terminal. Also, the general run of'tanks in the hand-pump class make no provision for the overflow because the hand pump also measures the output of the tank tocheck up on the input.

The above objections I consider as deficiencies in the art, and seek to overcome them by the rovision of a simple tank structure to withstand an internal pressure having material substantially of the same gage as the tanks of the hand-pum class of like capacit compare substantia ly the same in cost, ta e care of the overflow, eliminate the mounted, large and bulky handpump structure and substitute therefor a small and compact air-controlling means for dispensing the fluid contents of the tank by pressure.

Another object is the provision of a tank structure considered safe at all times, even by inadvertance should the air pressure be turned on and left on indefinitely.

Another object is that but part of the mit tank structure is under pressure and that preferably of a small predetermined volume, while the balance of the tank is for storage and under atmospheric pressure only.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a fluid dispensing tank in which the pressure tank therein is situated directly beneath the storage tank so as to admit the feed by gravity from the latter, the pressure tank being alternatel connectible with a source of pressure an with the atmosphere for the purpose of first applying ressure for the displacement of the fluid t erefrom to any desired measure or receptacle, and then relievlng the pressure from said ressure tank to permit the replenishment of t e fluid by gravity from the superposed storage tank.

Another object of the invention is to prov1de a pressure supply conduit direct to the pressure tank and use a part of the said conduit as a venting conduit, and at the junction of the double-use conduit to connect a single pressure-control means, such as the air-control valve of my copending patent application, Serial No. 90,321, filed February 24, 1926. whereby an angular turn of the valve will communicate pressure to the ressure tank or relieve the pressure there rom to the atmosphere.

With the above and other objects in view,

my invention consists in the improved liquid dispensing device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the followmg specification and particularly claimed at the end thereof, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my inven t1on a pertains. In t e drawings accompanying and formmg a part of this specification, and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional elevation of a tank structure embodying the invention, the air-control means being shown in the open position whereby the pressure 95 supply condu1t is open direct to the pressure tank; and

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation but of a frag ment of the structure, to show that the aircontrol means has been angularly turned to relieve the pressure in the pressure tank to the atmosphere, by directing the compressed air in the pressure tank to escape through part of the pressure supply conduit and through the exhaust port of the air-control 105 means. i

Adverting to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown comprises a' unit tank structure having continuous metallic side walls indicated by the numeral 3, 1

a top 4 having an ening 5 preferabl central therein, and a c osed bottom 6. l 'ithin the casing 7 of the tank, and before the top or bottom is made a part thereof, I secure as by welding at 8 a suitably formed metallic partition 9. The partition is positioned close to the bottom 6 for three main reasons: namely (1) to establish a sealed compartment 10 in the tank and maintain in it a maximum safe internal pressure with the ordinary plate material used for open tanks that could not be accomplished if the artition were placed otherwise; (2) to estab isha pressure tank of small predetermined volume, usually thgfipallons; (3) to establish a storage ta 11 of arge capacity with respect to the pres- ..sure tank and that the same be directly above the ressure tank so that the latter may automatically be filled with oil 12, or any other fluid, by gravity under certain conditions.

Preferably in the center of the partition 9 I secure an ordinary check valve 13 openable downwards from the storage tank into the ressure tank when there is no pressure in t e latter.

To a convenient art of the tank such as the top thereof P mount a sim 1e airpressure control means 14, such as t e valve of my said copending application, and to the valve a pipe connection 15 is made leading from a source of air pressure supply (not shown), usually a branch from the air pump pipe line. A reducing valve 16 is interposed in the branch, to effect a pressure of about five to ten pounds in the conduit 15.

A pipe 17 is connected to the partition 9 and may extend through the storage tank and is at its other end connected to the valve 14, and is communicative with the pipe connection 15 through the channel 18 of the valve. This pipe 17 is also communicative to the atmosphere through the said channel 18 and exhaust port 19 in the valve 14, Fig. 2.

A delivery pipe connection 20 is in com munication with the pressure tank and is shown as passing through the storage tank and is terminated within close proximity of the bottom 6 of the pressure tank. The pipe is sealed at the partition 9 as by the weld 21. The pi rojects through the top 4 and is suitab y ormed so that its dispensing faucet 22, nozzle, or other terminal may be over the o ening 5. The height of the faucet above t e tank is such that any common measure may be conveniently held under the faucet for a dispensation of the fluid, any overflow dripping back into the storage tank through opening 5 and screen 23. A suitable check valve 24 is install d in the delivery pipe and preferably near the outlet.

In operation, the storage tank is filled with the liquid desired through the opening 5, and if the air-controlling means 14 is positioned so that the conduit 17 is open to the atmosphcre, the check-controlled port 13 will open and admit the li uid to flow by gravity into the auxiliary tan l0 and fill the same. To effect a dispensation of the liquid, a measure or any receptacle (not shown) is held under the delivery outlet 22, and the air-controlling means 14 is manipulated so that compressed air is conveyed through conduits 15 and 17 to the pressure or auxiliary tank 10, whereupon the increased pressure therein exerts its influence upon the valve of the check-controlled port 13 and closes it, and the liquid in the said auxiliary tank is forced therefrom through the delivery pipe connection 20, check valve 24 and discharge terminal 22 and into the receptacle, any overflow or surplus liquid dripping back into the stora e tank whereb none of the liquid is wastetf and a clean ispenaing tank service equipment be ever present.

Should a three-gallon measure (the capacity of the hereindescribed auxiliary tank) e desired, the air-controlling means 14 is left open until all the liquid from the auxiliar tank is exhausted, and made evident by t e issuance of air from the dischar e terminal. From this, it is obvious that t e unit tank structure 1s never in danger of disruption by pressure, as this safety factor is ever present, a much desired feature of the salable article of manufacture.

Having illustrated and described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, ,is:

1. A fluid container having a top provided with an opening covered by a screen constituting a drain and said container having a closed bottom, a artition sealed in the container near the ttom thereof to divide the container into an upper compartment under atmospheric premure and a lower compartment therebeneath adapted to withstand pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, a check-valve-controlled port in said partition between said compartments, a delivery pipe from the lower compartment spaced from said port and terminating in spaced relation above the opening ,in the top of the container, means for supplying compressed air to the lower compartment whereby to discharge fluid therefrom, and means for relieving the pressure in said lower compartment to permit flow of fluid thereto through the check-controlled port.

2. A fluid container having a top provided with a screened opening and having a closed bottom, a partition sealed in the container near the bottom thereof to divide the container into an upper com artment under atmospheric pressure and a ower compartment therebeneath adapted to withstand pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, a check-valve-controlled port between said compartments, a delivery pipe from the lower compartment and terminating in spaced' relation above the opening in the top of the container, and unitary air-controlling means for selectively connecting the 5 lower compartment to asource of compressed air or to the atmosphere; whereby when said means is manipulated to admit compressed air to the lower compartment the fluid therein will be expelled through the de- 10 livery pipe, and when manipulated to relieve the pressure to atmosphere the check controlled port will open to admit the fluid in the upper compartment to flow by gravity into the lower compartment, 'sur lus flow from the delivery pipe being a apted to 15 flow through the opening inthe top of the container to the upper com artment.

In testimony whereof, I a x my signature.

SEWABD B. MERRY. 

